Prediction of Protein Tertiary Structure using Genetic Algorithm

Proteins are essential for the biological processes in the human body. They can only perform their functions when they fold into their tertiary structure .Protein structure can be determined experimentally and computationally. Experimental methods are time consuming and high-priced and it is not always feasible to identify the protein structure experimentally. In order to predict the protein structure using computational methods, the problem is formulated as an optimization problem and the goal is to find the lowest free energy conformation. In this paper, Genetic Algorithm (GA) based optimization is used. This algorithm is adapted to search the protein conformational search space to find the lowest free energy conformation. Interestingly, the algorithm was able to find the lowest free energy conformation for a test protein (i.e. Met enkephalin) using ECEPP force fields

Maternal body mass index in outcome of pregnancy

Background: The increasing prevalence of obesity in young women is a major public health concern. These trends have a major impact on pregnancy outcomes in these women, which have been documented by several researchers. The objective of this study was to assess antenatal, intra-partum complications, perinatal outcome in pregnant women with high BMI.Methods: A total number of 100 cases were included in the study out of which, 50 cases were pregnant women with high BMI (> or = 30 kg/m2), 50 were pregnant women with normal BMI (20-24 kg/m2). Their pregnancy outcome were observed and compared. The outcome variables evaluated in study were rates of preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, cesarean delivery, failed induction, operative vaginal deliveries, birth weight, and postpartum infection.Results: Most of the patients that is, 60% of obese group and 68% of control group were between 20-25years, 28% of obese group and 8% of control group were between 31-35years. In our study most of the patients, 66% of obese group and 56% of control group were primiparas, whereas 34% of obese and 44% of normal group were multipara. There is a fourfold increase in the incidence of pre-eclampsia in the obese group compared to normal BMI group. Incidence of gestational diabetes is 2% in normal group compared to 8% in obese group that is fourfold increase in incidence in obese group. Pre-term labor is 8% among obese and 2% among control groups, a significant increase. Incidence of induction of labor is doubled in obese group, incidence being 20% in control group and 40% in obese group. Incidence of instrumental delivery is 14% in obese group and 6% in control group. 32% of obese group underwent cesarean section when compared to 12% of control group. The incidence of cesarean section is 3times higher in obese group. Macrosomia is the most common complication observed in the study, the incidence being 22% in obese group and 2% in control group. There is increase in incidence by eleven fold. Incidence of low APGAR score is increased by twofold.Conclusions: Maternal BMI shows strong associations with pregnancy complications and outcome. Both maternal and fetal complications are increased

BIOACTIVE CONSTITUENTS AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFICACY OF AURICULARIA POLYTRICHA

Objective: Auricularia polytricha is a most popular edible and medicinal fungus in China and other Asian countries because of its high nutritionalvalue and good taste. The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potency, total phenol, and flavonoid content in the hot water extractof A. polytricha fruiting bodies.Methods: The antioxidant property was investigated using various in vitro chemical and biological models such as 2, 2'-azino-bis [3-ethylbenzothiazoline6-sulfonicacid],dimethyl-4-phenylenediamineradicalscavengingassay,cupric reducingantioxidantcapacityassay,phosphomolybdenumreducingantioxidantpowerassay,β-carotenebleaching and lipid peroxidationinhibition assays.Results: A. polytricha exhibited antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner with lower ECvalues in all scavenging assays. A considerableamount of secondary metabolites such as phenol and flavonoids were observed in the extract.50 Conclusion: The results demonstrated that A. polytricha has a potential significance for seeking new natural antioxidant agents against oxidativestress.Keywords: β-carotene bleaching, Free radicals scavenging, Lipid peroxidation, Total phenols, Total flavonoids, Wood ear mushrooms

Study on bacterial vaginosis in pregnant women and associated factors on maternal and fetal outcome

Background: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a condition in which the normal, lactobacillus-predominant vaginal flora is replaced with anaerobic bacteria, gardnerella vaginalis and mycoplasma hominis1. It is one cause of vaginitis among pregnant and non-pregnant women and an extremely prevalent vaginal condition.Methods: The present study was conducted on all antenatal women attending OPD satisfying the inclusion criteria was taken during the study period 1st October 2012 to 30th June 2014 in GSL General Hospital, Rajahmundry was examined for bacterial vaginosis using Nugent score. All pertinent obstetric and neonatal data covering antenatal events during the course of pregnancy, delivery, puerperium and condition of each newborn at the time of birth was collected. BV was detected by both Gramstain (Nugent criteria) and gold standard clinical criteria (Amsel’s composite criteria).Results: In this study bacterial vaginosis is seen in 313 cases of educated women (62.6%) as most of them have got primary education and 187 (37.4%) cases are uneducated. In this study, symptomatic bacterial vaginosis is more common in multigravida (Bladder -23; Discharge -50) 73 (22%) when compared with primigravida 11 (6.5%) probably because of longer period of marital life. In this study antenatal risk factors like previous IUCD (4.2%) use, H/O STD’s (1.4%), husband having h/o of multiple sexual partners (1.8%) are 7.4%.No cases of smoking, alcohol, drug abuse, douching were reported.Conclusions: Both primigravida and multigravida asymptomatic cases are more when compared to symptomatic cases leading to the need for routine screening. Routine screening of antenatal women resulted in the decrease of adverse pregnancy outcome

TOTAL PHENOL, FLAVONOID AND ANTIOXIDANT PROPERTIES OF AURICULARIA AURICULA-JUDAE

Objective: From ancient times, Auricularia auricula has been used as food and also as herbal medicine in China. The hot water extract of Auricularia auricula fruiting bodies were evaluated for free radical scavenging potency, total phenol and flavonoid content.Methods: The antioxidant property was investigated using different in vitro assays such as, ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis[3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonicacid]), DMPD (Dimethyl-4-phenylenediamine) radical scavenging assay, reducing power, phenanthroline assay, lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte hemolysis inhibition assays and also subjected to analyse total phenol, flavonoid levels and total antioxidant capacity by phospho- molybdenum assay.Results: The levels of total phenol and flavonoid were found to be 8.94 mg CE/g, 3.49 mg RE/g respectively. The EC50 values are<10 mg/ml in all the assays which indicate its strong scavenging activities. The antioxidant activity was found to be concentration-dependent. A significant difference (P<0.05) was observed between the concentrations tested.Conclusion: These results suggest that Auricularia auricula mushrooms are good scavengers of ABTS, DMPD radicals, reducer of ferric ions, and inhibitor of lipid peroxidation and erythrocyte hemolysis. Thus, it could potentially be used as a source of bioactive compounds.Â

Bmi1 Is Expressed in Postnatal Myogenic Satellite Cells, Controls Their Maintenance and Plays an Essential Role in Repeated Muscle Regeneration

PMCID: PMC3212532This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited